Search Underway for Sailor Missing from Carrier USS George Washington
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US aircraft carrier group searches for missing sailor off the coast of Australia
The search-and-rescue operations for a possible sailor overboard began after the command staff received word of a missing crew member. The sailor’s name is being withheld at this time, the Navy said. The George Washington strike group is in the Timor Sea as part of the Talisman Sabre 25 exercise. The exercise is the first deployment for the George Washington since it moved from San Diego to Navy Base-Fleet Activities Yokosuka.
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington and its strike group of warships and aircraft are searching the Timor Sea off Australia for a sailor reported missing Monday, the Navy confirmed.
The search-and-rescue operations for a possible sailor overboard began after the command staff received word of a missing crew member.
“The ship initiated search-and-rescue procedures after receiving reports of a possible sailor overboard,” the USS George Washington said in a statement released by the Navy. “Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force assets are also supporting the U.S. Navy with the search-and-rescue efforts.”
The sailor’s name is being withheld at this time, the Navy said.
The search includes the destroyer USS Shoup, the cruiser USS Robert Smalls, Helicopter Squadron 12 and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 78. Fixed-wing aircraft from the USS George Washington, a Nimitz-class carrier, are also involved in the search.
The George Washington strike group is in the Timor Sea as part of the Talisman Sabre 25 exercise.
“Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States, advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and partners, while enhancing our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns,” the Navy said in a statement issued July 18.
The exercise is the first deployment for the George Washington since it moved from San Diego to Navy Base-Fleet Activities Yokosuka in Japan. It replaced the USS Ronald Reagan, which is undergoing scheduled maintenance at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton near Seattle.
Sailor may have fallen overboard from USS George Washington off the coast of Australia
A massive search is underway in the Timor Sea for a USS George Washington sailor reported missing after reports that a sailor may have gone overboard. The U.S. Navy is being supported in the effort by Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force assets. The missing sailor’s name has not been released, following Navy policy and pending notification of next of kin.
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AUSTRALIA, — A large-scale search and rescue operation is underway in the Timor Sea after a sailor assigned to the USS George Washington (CVN 73) was reported missing on Sunday, July 28. The aircraft carrier, currently deployed as part of Carrier Strike Group 5, initiated the search following reports that a sailor may have gone overboard.
The U.S. Navy is being supported in the effort by Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force assets, expanding the search across a remote stretch of ocean.
The missing sailor’s name has not been released, following Navy policy and pending notification of next of kin.
The incident marks another serious challenge for the George Washington, which spent nearly six years in Hampton Roads undergoing a prolonged overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding. That extended maintenance period became the center of national attention after a troubling series of Sailor deaths, many of them ruled suicides.
As public scrutiny intensified, lawmakers, including Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, demanded accountability and expanded mental health services for service members. The Navy responded by increasing access to mental health professionals and committing to better implementation of the Brandon Act, designed to safeguard service members experiencing mental health crises.
The ship returned to sea in 2024 and is currently forward-deployed in Yokosuka, Japan.
USS George Washington searching Timor Sea for missing sailor
The U.S. Navy began search efforts after receiving reports of a possible sailor overboard. The Navy did not disclose the missing sailor’s identity, in line with service policy.
The carrier began search efforts after receiving reports of a possible sailor overboard, the Navy said in a brief release.
Units assigned to Carrier Strike Group 5, along with the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Border Force, are assisting in the effort.
The Navy did not disclose the missing sailor’s identity, in line with service policy.
The release did not disclose additional details about the specific location of the search.
Beth Sullivan is an editor for Military Times. Previously, she worked as a staff reporter for The Daily Memphian and as an assistant editor at The Austin Chronicle.
USS George Washington Sailor reported missing, search efforts in Timor Sea
The sailor was assigned to the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group. The strike group, which comprised of around 3,000 Sailors, had set sail for Japan. The Sailor’s name was not released by the U.S. Navy,
“The ship initiated search and rescue procedures after receiving reports of a possible Sailor overboard,” the press release reads.
The sailor was assigned to the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group (CVN 73), which departed from Naval Station Norfolk on Apr. 25, 2024. The strike group, which comprised of around 3,000 Sailors, had set sail for Japan.
The Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force are currently assisting with the search efforts.
The Sailor’s name was not released by the U.S. Navy, per their policy.
Search under way for US sailor missing from USS George Washington in sea north of Australia
The USS George Washington and its carrier strike group are conducting search-and-rescue operations in the Timor Sea. The Australian defence force and Australian Border Force are assisting in the search. The sailor’s name or rank, or the circumstances of the incident, has not been disclosed. The aircraft carrier is operating in the sea as part of Talisman Sabre 2025 exercises.
The aircraft carrier and its carrier strike group are conducting search-and-rescue operations in the sea, after “reports of a possible sailor overboard” on Monday afternoon, the US navy said in a statement.
The Australian defence force and Australian Border Force are assisting in the search.
The sailor’s name or rank, or the circumstances of the incident, has not been disclosed.
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Defence said the ADF was called in to support US search efforts “for a sailor … who was reported missing in the Timor Sea”.
“Australian Defence Force-owned and Australian Border Force-contracted assets are supporting the search, including Royal Australian Air Force P8-A Poseidon aircraft and Royal Australian Navy Cape Class Patrol Boat ADV Cape Otway.”
The USS George Washington returned to sea in 2024 after a major overhaul and upgrade. It is forward-deployed in Japan.
The aircraft carrier – and its carrier strike group – are operating in the Timor Sea as part of Talisman Sabre 2025 exercises.
Talisman Sabre is a biennial, multinational military exercise led by Australia and the United States. The 2025 iteration involves more than 43,000 military personnel from 19 countries – including India, Indonesia, the UK and France. Three additional countries – Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam – are observers of the exercises.
The Timor Sea, a shallow sea of the Indian Ocean, lies north-west of Darwin, between Australia and the island of Timor.